Former Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith Files Request for Sentence Reduction

Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith, who made headlines in 2022 for his involvement in assisting North Korea with blockchain technology, is seeking a reduction in his 63-month prison sentence. Griffith’s attorney, Glen Garrett McGorty, submitted a request for a sentence reduction to Judge Kevin Castel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 17.

The plea is based on recent amendments to U.S. sentencing guidelines, which include a provision for a two-point offense level reduction for certain “zero-point” offenders. Griffith’s legal team argues that he qualifies for this reduction under the outlined criteria.

Griffith was originally sentenced to 63 months in prison and fined $100,000 in April 2022 after pleading guilty to violating U.S. sanctions laws by providing assistance to North Korea in using blockchain technology. The requested reduction in his sentence would potentially lower his term by a year or more.

In addition to his prison sentence, Griffith also faced a 10-year ban on export privileges imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in May 2023, prohibiting him from engaging in transactions involving commodities, software, or technology subject to U.S. export regulations.

Meanwhile, Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, has challenged charges against him, claiming he did not operate a money laundering business or violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Storm’s lawyers argue that he cannot be accused of conspiring to launder funds, as Tornado Cash was developed and publicly available before being utilized by sanctioned hacking groups.

The legal battles of these prominent figures in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space continue to unfold, raising questions about the intersection of technology, law, and international relations. Stay tuned for updates on these developing stories.